So we move on from Czech Republic to Austria. We stayed one night on the Danube and then scuttled down to Vienna. We had a timetable, because we'd managed to hook up with one of the local hashes and now had a Monday night run to take part in.

The hash first. Will try not to bore, suffice to say it was a great run in the Vienna Woods (Weiner Wald). We met up at a layby up the hill outside Vienna, the hare was a guy called King Ralph (similar style to Ram), good sized pack with some slow coaches (so M was happy). Beer stop and singing stop (very musical bunch) half way round, where we got to sample some of the local "most" (I think that's right), dry cider. Then back to the on inn. The circle at the end was fun, lots of beer supplied by the hare and it went on until the beer was done. M surpassed herself and had about five down downs (an unbelievable performance, I was actually getting worried, until I had my sixth !) By the time the circle finished, the "on inn" proper was closed and we ended up at an Imbiss (fast food stall) somewhere on the outskirts of Vienna for more beer and sausages...then it all goes hazy...excellent time had by all though.

We spent the next two days recovering from the hash and exploring Vienna. To quote M "it's a bit up it's own arse". What she means is that there were lots of impressive buildings and stuff about music and art but we couldn't really find anything that gave us a feel for the people. Still we did do a couple of museums (one with the Klimpt "Bethoveen frieze) and one to do with music, which gave info on the great composers that lived and worked in Vienna. For example did you know that Strauss was the Robbie William of his day, Bethoveen was a crotchety old git, who moved 65 times in 35 years and Mahler was responsible for getting opera singers to act...just a few of the facts M picked up and I didn't on our tour of the "Music" house.

Our second day was a bit more laid back and we explored the palace gardens (complete with tame red sqirrels) and wandered the streets. M particularly enjoyed the whistling Mozart statue (see picture) and was well happy because we stopped for cake and coffee (a Vienna must do) amidst the chandeliers of Cafe Central.

All in all Vienna was pretty tiring. So we're off to the Slovakian mountains next for a bit of fresh air !